The Power of Air!
Air is all around us, but we don't really notice it or even pay attention to it.
We can walk through it, run through it, jump on it, and twirl around in it. No problem.
But have you tried walking against a super strong gust of wind? How did it feel? What about trying to keep your umbrella from flying away on a windy rainy day? Tougher, right?
We did a simple demonstration on the power of air.
If you look at the first photo, you will see that there is no water dripping out of the bottle. On the second photo, you can see water dripping from the bottom of the bottle. Why is this so?
Look at the photos carefully. Aside from water dripping in the second picture, what is another difference that you see?
RIGHT! The second photo shows that bottle uncapped!
Try it at home, it's easy!
We can walk through it, run through it, jump on it, and twirl around in it. No problem.
But have you tried walking against a super strong gust of wind? How did it feel? What about trying to keep your umbrella from flying away on a windy rainy day? Tougher, right?
We did a simple demonstration on the power of air.
If you look at the first photo, you will see that there is no water dripping out of the bottle. On the second photo, you can see water dripping from the bottom of the bottle. Why is this so?
Look at the photos carefully. Aside from water dripping in the second picture, what is another difference that you see?
RIGHT! The second photo shows that bottle uncapped!
Try it at home, it's easy!
The Experiment: Demonstrating the Power of Air
Our Objective: To demonstrate the power of air.
Our Materials:
The Procedure:
Our Materials:
- empty plastic bottle with cap
- push pin or awl
- water!
The Procedure:
The Science Behind the Magic
What happened?
Why is it when the bottle of capped tightly, water does not leak out of the bottle?
When the bottle is capped, the water cannot flow out because there is no air pushing it out. When the bottle is uncapped, then the air from the outside can push the water out of the bottle!
Why is it when the bottle of capped tightly, water does not leak out of the bottle?
When the bottle is capped, the water cannot flow out because there is no air pushing it out. When the bottle is uncapped, then the air from the outside can push the water out of the bottle!
For Parents
Science is a great way to develop your children's critical thinking and logical reasoning skills! So, ask them to share what they did during science club. They should have brought home the products of the experiments or even some materials to do the experiment at home with you! Have a discussion about the experimental process and do extension activities! I promise that you will have as much fun as your children had and they will have a blast being your TEACHER!
Discussion Questions:
Extension Activities:
Discussion Questions:
- Will the experiment work if you only unscrew the cap slightly?
- Is there another way you can stop the water from flowing out aside from screwing the cap on tightly (HINT: What do you need to stop from entering the bottle?)
Extension Activities:
- Try to see what would happen if you put holes on the top or middle of the bottle. Take some photos and send them to me! I'd like to see what you've come up with!